1st Heart...

 

This is going to be brief because everything that needs to be said is in the article. This piece is about the world's 1st HIV+ to HIV+ heart transplant.  This happened this Spring, so it'd seem it went well.  Give this a read.

Cya...

Cooler...

 

It was cooler yesterday, but it was still very humid.  Today looks to be the same.  After that, it'll heat back up some, but so far no 100s are in the forecast.  Maybe  we're past those. That'd be nice.

There were no new topics in the articles.  I'm going to be content that the power's on & it's not blazing or storming at the moment.   This has not been a good Summer.

That's all for, take care.

Cya...

Early Post...

 

I'm posting way early, it's 1 AM.  The power went out again.  It's back for now & I hope it stays on.  Just in case, here's this post.   This shit is old. OG&E needs to get it together.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Threaten...

 

It threatened to storm last night & it was a little unsettling after last week.  There's a chance for storms all weekend.  I just hope none of them are too serious.  We don't need another round of that crap.

We got the trash & brush to the curb.   I was happy to see both gone when I got up.  That's another step between us & last week's microburst.  Every step helps.

That's about all for now.  We're still recovering from  all the storm BS.   It'd be nice to  not have  another big event any time soon.  It doesn't seem like it can just rain anymore.  It always has to be a storm.

Take care.

Cya...

Another One...

 

This will be a short post.  Today's  topic is important to note, but I think I've said about as much as I can in past posts.  This article announces the 4th patient cured of HIV.  Like the predecessors, it involved a transplant.   It's an important read & will add more to reearch efforts.

Take care, stay safe.   Maybe this damned  heat will calm down soon.  Not waking to  hot mornings would be nice.   

Cya...

Texas Sucks In The Worst Way...

 

In an effort to show they're the most bastardly of states, Texas officials are looking to undermine more of the ACA.  This piece tells of how Texas lawmakers want to prevent being forced to support PrEP & similar preventative items.

They argue it violates their BS religious freedoms. They shouldn't be forced to support anything that would, “Facilitate & encourage homosexual behavior, prostitution, sexual promiscuity, and intravenous drug use.”  Isn't most of that just living in Texas?

Oh well, Texas just had to show it won't be outdone for  assholery.  

Cya...

Still Not...

 

We still haven't caught up with everything since the storm.  We'll have most of the outside errands done today.  But there's still more to clear out of the freezer.  Some of that will have to wait until closer to trash day.  We don't want a lot of meat sitting outside that long attracting things.  So, by Wednesday that should be handled.   

Most importantly we still haven't completely recovered from this mess.  This was a rough bout of crap.   I bet a lot of people are going to be off their game for a long time to come.

There still weren't articles worth looking at, so this is it for now.  Take care.

Cya...

At Home...

 

We're back home & I'm glad  to be out of that hotel.  It's a former Days Inn that someone let go to pot.  The wi-fi & AC were good, everything else was pretty off.   The hard ass beds were horrible.

So we're back & now it's time to clean out the fridge & freezer.  Lost almost everything. There goes a lot of  cash.  I hate our power company.  The street level people are fine, but the others are best useless.  These power outages happen every Summer.  This company could do a lot better by its  customers.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Maybe Today...

 

Spent the night in motel.  It was a rough night of sleep for me.  I hope this ends today.  I just want the electricity to do what's it's supposed to do.   Even after it's on, this means cleaning out the fridge & freezer.  There goes $ we didn't need to lose.

That's all for now, fingers crossed  all that.

Cya...

No Power...

 

Barely a post & it's late.  We lost power due to a storm.  Barely slept last night.   The power is still out & they aren't sure when it'll be back.  So this it for now.

Take care.

Cya...

Insensitive, Maybe...

 

Plans for fighting HIV faltered during the pandemic.  A lot of things did.  Programs are doing their best to get back on top of matters.  But there are some  groups scattershooting blame for failure of HIV treatment approach strategies for certain communities.

Very often, articles state those treating HIV in ethnic or cultural communities are failing.  Often it doesn't come off like these groups tried  & failed, but that the writers are accusing these groups of purposefully  under performing for the non mainstream. 

They call foul for the way HIV strategies have been applied to Black, Hispanic or other groups.  They call for blame when failing to compensate for all the IV  drug users.  

Yes, these strategies have to be well developed, delivered & constantly modified.  Sometimes they won't succeed as well as intended.  But, it doesn't matter if the community is Mexican, Black or Purple Spotted Woozles, at some point these groups have to own up to their part of the issues & not just blame faceless programs.

Not taking responsibility for your well being is easy.  Blaming others is very easy.  Being accountable for you part in the situation can be a bitch.  But accountability & effort are necessary from all sides if  the fight against HIV is every going to get ahead.

Maybe this will be come off as being insensitive.  I'm fine with that.  Just call me Mr. Insensitive, but at least I told you the truth on this point.  

Cya...

Damn Paywalls...

 

I understand people need to get paid & that it takes funds to operate a website.  But, at some point there has to be a give.  When a site is promoting important health information it shouldn't hide behind a paywall.

I saw a piece this morning allegedly reporting stats on the importance of knowing your HIV status.  How knowing & when you know affects matters.  I'm very well aware of this, but some new to the issue may not.  Articles like these could change a lot for people, but far too many of them are behind paywalls.  These sites could at least redirect to government sites with similar info.

That's all for today.  Screw paywalls on health matters.  Take care & be safe.

Cya...

Too Much...

 

July is proving to be just too much.  I'm tired of being stuck between the Miser Brothers.  Everything is either too cold or too hot.   We need the middle.  I'm not sure how well things are going to go for the blog for the Summer.  Things are staying too much & there have been very few good articles published.

I'll keep looking.  Take care & stay safe.

Cya...

Go Shop...

 

We'll head out in a bit to go shopping.  I need to see what I can find.  I never enjoy going to Walmart, but for last year, it's been even worse.  Supplies & options are down, costs are up & idiotic people are milling everywhere.  I never understood the people who treat  Walmart like a social scene.  It's too the point, that planning week meals is difficult, because I don't know what I'll find available.  Even if I do find it, is it worth 2 - 3 times more than it was last year?

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Not Great...

 

My 50's haven't been that great.  Between health issues, the climate & sociopolitical BS, these last  years have mostly sucked.   My health has taken some serious hits, but those weren't as bad as the climate changes & politics.  People caused all the issues I'm dealing with & I already mostly despised most people.  These things didn't help my opinion of them.

I saw a cat & her kitten this morning.  I put out some food & water.  With the 2 cats we have, we can't really deal with any more.  Our siamese is geriatric & the other cat is pretty hateful of others.  The 2 outdoor cats came over easily, so I think they're local.  Most kittens would've been too scared to come close if they'd not been around people.  Hopefully, they'll be alright.  Why is it always, the people who would help can't & those who could, won't?  Again, I have no use for most people.

Cya...

Summer Heat Suck...

 

Last Summer, we may have hit the century mark a time or 2, I don't remember it happening.  This year, it's been almost daily for weeks.  The Summer of 2009 when we moved here was bad, then 2 years later was the hell season that killed a lot of the yard bushes.  About 5 years ago, there was a hotter season.   Now, it's back.  La Nina sucks.  It can take its heat & drought & leave.  This weather sucks for everything.  It's trying to do most things in, but some of the grass  & bugs are holding on for dear life.

Who knows when we'll get a reprieve.  Till then, hello AC.  Take care  & stay safe.

Cya...

Stupid Rumors...

 

There has been a ridiculous rumor since the before the arrival of the COVID vaccine.  Some people have said the vaccine could cause HIV infections.  This idiocy apparently never left.  Many researchers have been falsely accused of reporting that if you have had your vaccines & booster, you should have "AIDS" test.  

To start, no vaccine researcher has been proven to  have said anything of the sort.  2nd, if someone refers to being tested for HIV as an "AIDS" test, they're ignorant & likely to be stirring the pot.

The COVID vaccines do not & can not cause HIV.  Get your vaccines & get tested.  But don't worry about getting HIV from anything other than exposure to the virus.

Cya...

Yesterday & Still Hot...

 

Yesterday's errands went alright.  The trip wasn't bad, but it was hot & we aren't as used to going to Fort Smith as we were.  Going over there is annoying on a good day, but it was hot & the car was being a bit  weird.  Almost everything we have to deal with in that town is on the far side of it.  Drivers & traffic over there are both stupidly difficult.  Going deeper into Fort Smith than the nearest edge instantly adds 15 - 30 minutes to your trip.  That added time is almost always nothing but a frustrating series of nuisances.   I don't like Fort Smith.  It's not really a city.  It's just an overgrown whistle stop that's full of itself.

It's going to be hot for seemingly ever.  Take care & stay safe.

Cya...

Errands Short...

 

We're heading out in just a bit to run some errands.  I barely had time for a shower after Windows decided to update.   In a hurry, Windows has an update for your system.  That's all for, take care.

Cya...

Modified Approach...

 

This piece is about the use of bispecific proteins as treatment for HIV.  This approach affects T-cells with a modified protein to boost their ability to fight off illness such as HIV, cancer & other autoimmune issues. 

Will this work?  The jury's out on that.  If it does or just improves research, it's a good step forward.  Give  this a read.

Take care.

Cya...

Hard Season...

 

This is not being an easy Summer for me.  We had a long, dark & wet  Winter/Spring.  When Spring finally decided get it together, we had a couple of weeks of decent weather.  Then the hellish heat set in & hasn't really left.  The last couple of days have been better, but  that's ending.

Everything seems cranked up & unrelenting this season.   TV's a suckfest & the only news they talk  about is bad.  The constant fans have gotten to my breathing & are trashing my eyes.  The yard's a bit high, but it's too hot for the man to mow safely.

Nothing about this Summer has been good so far & there's a couple months of it left.   I'm tired.  This used to be the season I could sort of recharge myself for the rest of the year.   I don't think that's happening this time.

The theme of this Summer is sucking.  It's miserably hot, allergens are rough, the flowers are mostly dead, I've seen 1 dragon & no hummingbirds.  It definitely wasn't worth being present for Summer 22.

Cya...

Basic Prevention...

 

Things got very basic during my article searches this morning.  Several actually gave me as the 1st response, the most  basic definition of HIV.  Good to  know, but a weird response when I was searching for current HIV news.  Most of the responses were very basic, but an article caught my attention.

This piece is about the basics of HIV spread & prevention.  It's not news to me, but maybe it will be  for some people.   Give it a look.

Take care.

Cya...

Steamy Shower...

 

After dark last night it rained.  It wasn't a big rain, but for a brief bit it was nicer.  Then the after effects set in.  Unless summer rains are fairly torrential, they're  usually an issue.  They cool things for a minute then the steam sets in on everything.  The cooler rain hits the hot air & heated ground only to become steamy.

Today won't be as hot.  But it will be more humid, which is worse.  Take care & stay safe.

Cya...

2nd Hot July Friday...

 

Cooler temps seem a ways off.  At least the overnight temps are supposed to lessen.   It'd be nice to wake up & it not be almost 90 by 9 AM.  There are no good seasons left in Oklahoma.  They're all severe in some way.   It's just always too much of something.

We need to go shopping.  At least the car has a decent AC.  I'd say we'd try to get back before it got too hot, but I think the ship has sailed.  Oh well, we'll do the best we can.  

Cya...

Roast...

 

Oklahoma is being roasted.  During the day, it's a dry roast then it turns wet at night.  This weather is a bit much, it's supposed to lessen some by Tuesday.  I woke up to nearly 90 & a heat index way past that.  The AC's going to work today.  

The best we can do at the moment is to stay dry.  Hard to do when you have to take a shower.  This weather makes showering almost useless.  If you can stay dry, you're just turning yourself into jerky.  

If you're in the heat, be careful.  Take care.

Cya...

Still Hot...

 

It's HOT.  I doubt it's going to be any cooler for a while.  Later in the day isn't as bad.  By then, the heat's burned off most of the humidity.  The mornings are awful.  So until it cools down or someone posts a decent article, there probably won't be much any post worth noting for a bit.  It's just too hot & muggy.

Cya...

Hot Week...

 

We definitely hit the century mark yesterday & the upcoming week is supposed to be just as hot.  The 4th came & went.  It was fairly subdued compared to past events, unless you count the mass shooting at a parade.   The shooter proves the point, never trust the truly ugly people. 

It's not going to be a fun week, but there's not much we can do about it.  So, hello AC.  Take care  & say safe.

Cya...

Used To Be...

It's the 4th & I used to love this holiday as a kid.  Not  so much now.  I'm not having roman candle wars or  bottle rockets barrages anymore.  The pops, booms & colors don't hold the charm they used to.   

Every year has taken its toll on celebrations like the 4th.   This year the Supreme Court took actions that showed how little they care about independence & liberty.  It'd seem off to hold this day with any esteem until this fixed.   

Take care & be safe.

Cya...

Not Much...

 

For the last several years, I've accepted things like  COVID & presidential BS have taken priority over people putting out good articles.  But the parade of issues has never stopped.  We're having heat waves, violence, stupid court decisions, still COVID, fires, droughts, etc...  People how much more do you need to see we're in an apocalyptic disaster movie?  The scientists & social leaders gave their warnings & were laughed off.  

I can handle less articles.  I'd really like it if we could all settle our collective asses down long enough to  get through this mess we've created.  I doubt that will happen, so I guess that's that.  I'd love to say it's been nice knowing you, but for most of you out there, it hasn't been.  There were no "good ole days" & at this rate, it's unlikely there will good  tomorrows.

Cya...

Present....

 

Occasionally, I google places from my  past.  It's almost always a mistake.  They say, "Don't meet your heroes," & "Kill your darlings."  I'd like to add  to that, "Don't look back."  

You may not lose your love or turn to salt, but you probably won't like what you see.  Unlike in your memories, time marched on & whatever happened in your absence, happened.  You may find your perspective challenged, your hopes dashed or nostalgia failure.  Sometimes the past reminds of things better left forgotten.

In the mid 90s they made a TV mini  series called, The Langoliers,  based off a 80's Stephen King novella .   It's  about a group that somehow got lost in the past.  Nothing was how it should've been, everything was off.  It was barely a representation of the time with everything drained out it.  Eventually,  these creatures were seem eating at the edges of everything.  Devouring everything in the path.  The past isn't meant to be lived in, only languished.  

When the people escape, they find themselve no longer in the past, but a bit in the future.   Where the past was like a hollow black & white picture.  The  future had yet to take shape & focus.  Slowly they sank back into the present where they were supposed to be & things returned to normal.

The point is, people live in the here & now.  Even if they ever were "good ole days," they gone now.  They're part of a past that can't be reclaimed.  Too  many of us live in a faded past or try to push into a  fuzzy future.  That's not where we live.  We are of the moment, the present.  "Welcome to now."

Cya...

July...

 

July is here & oh yeah, yippie.  I'm not thrilled about this.  It's just getting hotter.   The grass is still here.  The bugs are still here.  Precious few of the things I normally look forward during this season are  happening.

A TV show, we normally look forward to, crapped out.  I've only seen 1 dragonfly & no hummingbirds.  Some of the flowers barely bloomed & others still haven't.    Everything is taking from the tank, but very little is putting anything back.

Not that long ago, there were things I looked forward to in every season.  Seasonal things, new media, holidays...   Now, those are mostly gone.  I haven't really looked to a movie in a while & the last film  turned out to be a bust.

With my lack of attachment & the way things are in the world, I can't care about much of anything.  Let it burn.  Everything would probably be better off in the long run. 

Depressing.  So, hello July.  You're  already messing with my schedule.  Your damn Monday holiday will screw up the mail like the last 2 Monday holidays.   But the 4th is at the beginning, so it really throws things off.  Thanks July,  already not  happy with you.

Cya...